So why all the fuss this time of year?
Some are grateful that the year has ended, and have high hopes for the coming year, while others dread this time of year. All those year-end payments, credit card payments from Christmas, taxes, and other miscellaneous expenses that show up!
But for me, I think about what has just occurred:
We have just celebrated the birth of our Lord; we have the excitement of what great things He will do; we have a chance to do things differently this year. We are always told we cannot “relive” the past.
However when it comes to the Church calendar, I believe we can. After all
the seasons are the same from year to year. With January comes the Epiphany, the Baptism of Jesus, then Lent, and so on.
If we think about “how” we did those things last year, how can we improve on them? If Covid has done anything, it has given us more time to think about things. We can use that time to feel sorry for ourselves or we can think about the ways in which we can change.
Perhaps we will visit people more; we might even think more of them and appreciate their gifts.
Maybe if we think about the turning over of the calendar page as an opportunity to “turn” over a new leaf, a chance to start over. It is the perfect time to do so, we all have those New Year resolutions that we make: eat better, exercise more, why not just try to be a better person?
What if we increase our own expectations of ourselves? Let us work together on bringing people together.
I would like to offer this, please take some time and listen to the song “Rudolph the red nose reindeer” and if you would like we could talk about what the song says to you. I have my own thoughts and I do not want to ruin the song for you, but let’s chat, ok?
Peace, your servant in Christ,
Pastor Kerry